Trailer Detection Using Ranging Sensors for Phantom Object Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current trailer detection systems struggle to accurately determine trailer length and width, often due to erroneous detections from phantom objects, which can lead to inaccuracies in estimating the blind zone of a host vehicle, affecting safety.
Innovation Solution
A detection system utilizing a ranging sensor and a controller circuit to differentiate between real and phantom objects by setting peak and noise thresholds, allowing for precise determination of trailer distance, axle distance, and width, using formulas that incorporate these measurements to estimate trailer length and type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If trailer detection systems use ranging sensors to detect objects, then trailer distance and dimensions can be measured, but phantom objects cause erroneous detections that reduce measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes detection parameters by implementing threshold-based filtering that dynamically adjusts what constitutes a valid detection. By setting minimum detection counts and distance thresholds, the system transforms the raw sensor data into reliable measurements, eliminating phantom objects through parameter-based validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring detection counts and comparing them against threshold values. The controller receives feedback from the ranging sensor about detected objects and adjusts the final trailer dimension calculations based on whether detections meet the established criteria, creating a closed-loop validation process.
2Measurement precision
If the system filters out phantom objects using threshold criteria, then measurement accuracy improves, but system complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection process into distinct validation stages: initial object detection, detection count accumulation, threshold comparison, and final measurement calculation. This segmentation allows complex filtering logic to be broken down into manageable, independent processing steps that can be implemented efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the ranging sensor and the final measurement output. It introduces intermediate validation layers that process raw sensor data through threshold checks and detection count verification, mediating between the sensor inputs and the final trailer dimension calculations without requiring complex hardware modifications.
3Measurement precision
If the system determines trailer type based on distance thresholds, then trailer classification accuracy improves, but response time increases due to additional calculation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing distance thresholds for different trailer types before actual detection occurs. When the ranging sensor detects objects, the controller simply compares measurements against these pre-defined thresholds rather than performing complex real-time analysis, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining classification accuracy.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A detection system (10) includes a ranging-sensor (20) and a controller-circuit (32). The ranging-sensor (20) is configured to detect objects (26) proximate to a host-vehicle (12). The controller-circuit (32) is in communication with the ranging-sensor (20). The controller-circuit (32) is configured to determine that a trailer (14) is being towed by the host-vehicle (12) and determine a trailer-distance (42) between the host-vehicle (12) and a front of the trailer (14) based on a distance (28) to a first-group (46) of objects (26) detected by the ranging-sensor (20). The first-group (46) is characterized by a first-distance (48) indicated by the ranging-sensor (20). The controller-circuit (32) determines an axle-distance (56) between the front of the trailer (14) and a trailer-axle (58) based on a second-group (60) of objects (26). The second-group (60) is characterized by a second-distance (62) indicated by the ranging-sensor (20). The controller-circuit (32) determines a trailer-length (16) based on the trailer-distance (42) and the axle-distance (56).